Sunday, May 29, 2005

Scroll to the bottom of the page for latest news always continuously updated.

With visitors and crew travelling from all over the world to experience the famous Geordie welcome, The Tall Ships' Races 2005, organised by Sail Training International, at NewcastleGateshead is set to be the biggest and best ever. And we want you on board!

NewcastleGateshead hosted the largest ever of The Tall Ships' Races in 1993 - but expectations are higher still for 2005. A magnificent fleet of over 100 tall ships will drop anchor against one of the finest waterfronts in Europe to be greeted by a city transformed, a vibrant kaleidoscope of culture and leisure surrounded by breathtaking unspoilt countryside and beaches. The Races are expected to attract more than 3000 young people from more than 20 countries to participate as crew.

The whole event is free of charge, culminating in a dazzling music and entertainment extravaganza on the evening of Wednesday 27th July and unforgettable Parade of Sail next day, with over one million people expected to wish a fond farewell to the ships and their crews. Start planning to be there now and bring your friends and family. Make sure you don't miss out.

Just 2 months to go until the Tall Ships Race 2005 arrives in Newcastle. This will be the third visit to Newcastle and it's always a fantastic time particularly The parade of sail as they set off for Norway on the last leg of the race.

From 6.45am on the 9th of July, around 70 of the world's most beautiful Tall Ships began their journey down the River Suir, making their way to Dunmore East and the start of the 2005 Tall Ships' Races.

The journey followed a night of incredible spectacle, street parties, music, fanfare and the busiest night ever seen in the City of Waterford.Gardai estimate that around 380,000 visitors attended the Tall Ships'Festival and thousands more are lining the departure route to wave goodbye to the Irish and international crews, many of whom will sail for the first time ever.

Way Out In Gateshead (WING) are providing 2 crews of young people to take part in this year's Tall Ships' Race. The young people will be aboard the Christian Radich and the Queen Galadriel and will be involved in everything from climbing the rigging to swabbing the decks!

This weblog is a diary of their journey - updated on a daily basis. Find out what life is like on the ships and feedback your questions and comments to the crew on board via the comments feature below most postings. Trevor Coulson and Joanne Jopling, both from Gateshead Council will be working with the young people on board and helping them update the blog with news, photos and videos.

A friend of mine, hello Scooby, is sailing on the Queen Galadriel and he's just sent me an email saying he is now at Lowestoft and he is setting off for Hartlepool tonight and he is expecting to be in Newcastle about sunday or monday. He is finding it very tiring being on watch but he's loving the adventure. I'm kind of jealous.

These pictures are fresh in from Scooby of the Queen Galadriel in Lowestoft. Click for biggery.

Update 5:Click here to download a PDF of the Tall Ships festival map courtesy of icNewcastle.

Update 6:The first of my Tall Ships photos from the River Tyne are now up at Flickr including the picture below.

Update 7: 22nd JulyThe Kruzenshtern, possibly the biggest Tall Ship, arrived through the night. I remember this ship from the 1985 Tall Ships as I boarded it and had a look around it. It was another very grey start to the day here in Newcastle and the sun came out as I left, just my luck.

BBC/Tyne Tall Ships 2005. Throughout the Tall Ships' visit BBC Tyne, Radio Newcastle and Look North will be bringing you the best coverage on TV, on radio and online. Discover what treats are in store.

Update 12: 23rd JulyJust the one new ship in today that makes a total of 4 with 100 still to come in the next 2-3 days. The new ship today was The Dewarugi from Bulgaria. More older pictures here on a MSN site.

That's it folks the show is now over as far as I'm concerned unless anybody else wants to submit any photos for me to put up here. I've had a lot of fun covering the Tall Ships Race 2005 here in Newcastle and with it being the school holidays as well I've had ILuvNUFC Junior along for the ride most of the time and now I'm completely exhausted. Goodnight, I'm now off to bed. Thanks for visiting this page and for making me number 2 in Google, number 1 in Yahoo and number 1 in Blueyonder search engines for the Tall Ships Race in Newcastle 2005. Thank you and goodnight. Will the last one out please shut the door.

12 comments:

Anonymous
said...

my family and i enjoed the tall ships race back in 1986 we loved it the newcastle quay side should be shown off with more events north tyneside council have something to be proud of why not hold other large events liverpool does why cant we .

my family and i enjoyed the tall ships race back in 1986 we loved it the newcastle quay side should be shown off with more events north tyneside council have something to be proud so why not hold other large events liverpool does why cant we

the tall ships race are brilliant it will be the first time my kids have seen a reel sailing ship well done north tyneside . at least it will hide that ugly thing for a while the slug whoops i mean the sage sorry gateshead but it is ugly.

Thanks for the comments.Check back from time to time as I will be adding links about the tall ships on this page as and when I find them. Unless you know any that you can send me and I will put them up on here. I also have a friend who will be sailing on one of the ships and I've asked him too take some pictures for me.